Mexican Citizen Sentenced for Distribution of Child Pornography Charges

SYRACAUSE, NEW YORK - Edwin Morones, age 23, a Mexican citizen who formerly resided in Watertown, New York, was sentenced yesterday to 25 years (300 months) in federal prison for three charges of distribution of child pornography. Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), made the announcement.

As part of his guilty plea Morones admitted that during November and December 2024, Morones used a social media platform to participate in groups dedicated to trading child pornography and sent numerous child pornography files to other users, including one child pornography file Morones had personally created. Morones also distributed non-pornographic but still sexually explicit images of children that Morones had personally created. An analysis of Morones' social media account revealed over a dozen images and videos constituting child pornography. Morones has no current legal status in the United States.

Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: "The defendant, who was illegally present in the U.S., used what he thought was a secure social media platform to distribute child pornography and indulge his sick sexual fantasies. But our law enforcement partners, including the dedicated agents at HSI, have methods to monitor and identify child predators, no matter how they communicate. We thank those who work with law enforcement and honor their oaths to protect and defend the constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic by apprehending dangerous criminals like this. We cannot play politics in ensuring the safety and security of the citizens we serve."

Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan stated: "Edwin Morones, a Mexican national illegally in our country, shamelessly abused his unlawful presence to prey on children and distribute vile content online. Together with our law enforcement partners, HSI Syracuse will bring predators in our communities to justice, no matter their background or status, as reflected with today's sentence. HSI Syracuse will continue to defend our neighborhoods and safeguard our children from those who exploit our most vulnerable and flout U.S. rule of law."

United States District Judge Anthony J. Brindisi also sentenced Morones to serve a 15-year term of supervised release to begin after Morones is released from prison. Morones will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.

HSI investigated the case with assistance from the New York State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Gillis prosecuted the case.

Project Safe Childhood is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.